Acoustically responsive stabilized microbubbles formulated with a phospholipid monolayer shell, an encapsulated bioactive gas, and an encapsulated perfluorocarbon gas of the formula C.sub.xF.sub.y in a volume ratio of from about 10:1 to about 1:10, wherein X is greater than or equal to 3, are disclosed. Also provided are methods for promoting localized vasodilation in a patient in need thereof by delivering a microbubble comprising a phospholipid monolayer shell and an encapsulated bioactive gas locally to a target diseased section of the patient's vasculature; and releasing the bioactive gas at the target diseased section, wherein the microbubble comprises the bioactive gas in a ratio of from about 10:1 to about 1:10 by volume with a perfluorocarbon gas.

The potential use of a PMMA encapsulated near-infrared fluorescent dye includes endoscopic tattooing of intestinal neoplasms, location visualization of non-palpable breast lesions, and, but not limited to, location/visualization of soft tissue lesions in difficult anatomic regions. Commercially available fluorescent imaging systems, both open and laparoscopic, would be used in conjunction to fluoresce these marked tissues, augmenting the surgeon's ability to intraoperatively locate the correct lesion to resect.

Hydrogel nanoparticles and microparticles are prepared by a water-in-oil method from natural polymers that are water miscible, a hydrophobic polyol and a crosslinking agent. The hydrogel nanoparticles are auto fluorescent and can be used for imaging of cells and a biological entity. The hydrogel nanoparticles and microparticles can include magnetic nanoparticles and carry desired bioactive entities. The hydrogel nanoparticles and microparticles are useful for diagnostics and as therapeutics purposes including drug delivery, imaging of drug migration, and selectivity by the tagging or binding of the hydrogel nanoparticles and microparticles with appropriate antibodies or antigens.

The present disclosure provides compositions comprising encapsulated engineered bacteria. The bacteria may be engineered to act as sensors of biomarkers, such as inflammation, as well as to produce diagnostic or therapeutic agents.

The present invention relates to an injectable composition for labeling a lesion and a method for providing information on the position of the lesion using the injectable composition. More specifically, the injectable composition for labeling a lesion according to the present invention can include a second composition comprising a biocompatible viscous material in a first composition comprising a complex containing an active ingredient to resolve a problem of rapid settling of the complex. Additionally, in particular, the injection composition for labeling a lesion according to the present invention can have an effect of allowing a predetermined amount of the complex to be injected by resolving the problem of rapid settling of the complex during preparation of the injection, allowing a certain amount of the complex to be injected, and an effect of enabling convenient and stable use thereof for clinical purposes by resolving the problems of injecting an excessive amount of the complex and the quick spread thereof to the periphery.

The present invention relates to biodegradable agents associated with (e.g., complexed, conjugated, encapsulated, absorbed, adsorbed, admixed) one or more of a therapeutic agent (e.g., configured for treating, preventing or ameliorating various types of disorders), a diagnostic agent, and an agent capable of relaxing (e.g., opening, dilating) the hepatopancreatic anatomical region, as well as systems and methods utilizing such compositions (e.g., in diagnostic and/or therapeutic settings (e.g., treating pancreatic cancers)).

The present invention relates to a method for preparing beads comprising imaging agent. The present invention further provides beads highly useful for medical imaging.

The present invention provides targeting probe, imaging probes, and probes for use as a medicament to treat damaged cartilage, where the probe targets injured tissue and can then be imaged and/or release agents to trigger the migration of surrounding chondrocytes from healthy tissue to injured tissue and/or recruit synovial stem cells.

Certain embodiments are directed to Lipid Emulsions in Alginate Microspheres, e.g., Lipiodol Emulsion in Alginate Microspheres (LEAMs), as a chemoembolic agent. A oil in water emulsion of lipiodol can be stabilized within alginate microspheres at very high concentrations. These emulsion in alginate microspheres can be manufactured to any size range from 20 microns to 5000 microns. In certain aspects, an ultrasonic nozzle technology is used to manufacture small size microspheres of average diameter 50 microns. In other aspects, needle extrusion systems are used to manufacture large LEAMs termed Mega-LEAMs.

A microsphere and method for forming the same are disclosed. The microsphere includes modified cellulose and at least one of a visualization agent, a magnetic material, or a radioactive material.